scope:

This standard applies to all infrastructure assets which Network Rail manages, irrespective of which team within Network Rail is responsible for them.

It applies to assets at all stages of their life, so includes those under construction, renewal and recently completed.  

Purpose

This standard defines the process for Engineering Verifications which form part of Network Rail's assurance process for confirming that infrastructure assets are fit for purpose.

Engineering Verification was developed to address weaknesses in the assurance process identified following the fatal train derailment that occurred in 2007 at Grayrigg. The report produced by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch stated that:

a) there were deficiencies in the audit system, primarily because it did not include any examination of the asset;

b) the audits that were performed did not detect the inconsistencies in the documented maintenance regime and its practice.